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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

AgustaWestland, announced that it has signed a contract with the Swedish Maritime Administration for seven AW139 intermediate twin helicopters. The aircraft will be equipped for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations with the first helicopter scheduled to be delivered in the spring of 2013 and the final one in 2014.
The Swedish Maritime Administration is the authority responsible for Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Services in Sweden and will operate the AW139 helicopters from 5 bases across the country. Geoff Hoon, Managing Director International Business, AgustaWestland said after the signing of the contract “We are delighted that the Swedish Maritime Administration has chosen the AW139 to meet its future SAR helicopter requirement following a detailed evaluation process. The AW139, as the world’s bestselling and most capable helicopter in its class, will provide Sweden with an excellent SAR capability.”
This order continues the success of the AW139 in the European SAR market where its long range and all-weather operational capability are key advantages.
The AW139 is also widely used in Northern Europe for passenger transportation to offshore oil and gas installations.
The AW139 delivers best-in-class performance with a maximum cruise speed of 165 knots (306 kph), a range in excess of 500 nm (927 km) and superior hover performance. With its power reserve, the AW139 delivers Category “A” (Class 1) performance from a helipad (elevated or at ground level) at maximum take-off weight which also makes it a safe helicopter whilst performing demanding SAR missions.

The Swedish Maritime Administration’s AW139s will also be equipped with the unique Full Ice Protection System (FIPS) allowing flights into known icing conditions and enabling all weather operations, when other types would be confined to the hangar.
With the largest cabin in its class the AW139 delivers abundant working space and maximum mission flexibility to support cabin FLIR station operation, medical treatment and casualty evacuation requirements.
Large sliding doors on each side of the aircraft provide clear access to the 8 m3 (283 ft3) cabin for survivors and equipment. An additional baggage compartment space that is accessible from inside or outside the helicopter and allows SAR equipment to be stowed, keeping the main cabin clear.
The AW139’s design is optimized for easy and rapid maintenance with reduced number of parts, easy access to critical systems, extended component lifecycle, exclusive HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System) as well as comprehensive training services also including advanced Level D Full Flight Simulators. More than 500 AW139s are now in service performing many roles including SAR, air ambulance, offshore transport, VIP/corporate transport, law enforcement and military transport missions. Almost 180 customersfrom more than 50 countries have ordered nearly 660 AW139 helicopters so far.